Summer Nationals in Thompson will rev up Quiet Corner

Tuesday

Jul 2, 2013 at 7:52 PMJul 2, 2013 at 10:19 PM

By Brian Lee, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

THOMPSON — The thunder of the 23rd New England Summer Nationals took the passing lane down Interstate 395 to the sprawling and well-groomed Thompson International Speedway in Connecticut's Quiet Corner.

For the first time, the annual car show isn't in Worcester.

In Worcester, the Summer Nationals held its tamer, classic-car aspects at Green Hill Park, while the louder burnouts were downtown. The latter had a negative impact on some businesses and brought vandalism and property damage in the past, city officials said last year.

"We'll be watching that closely as things are transpiring here this Fourth of July weekend," said Thompson First Selectman Lawrence K. Groh Jr.

Mr. Groh added that this year's Summer Nationals, July 4-7, may not be as large of a draw because of competition from the Cars of Summer Car Show in Worcester — a show billed as a more family-focused event featuring classic vehicles on the same four days at Green Hill Park.

Still, the Thompson official said a large crowd is expected.

"We have security and all the precautions as we'd have for a large event," such as the Warrior Dash, which was attended by 20,000 people, Mr. Groh said. "We're hoping (Summer Nationals) will be a big success for the town of Thompson."

Summer Nationals organizer Robert J. Moscoffian said the show will have its usual fare of burnouts, drag races, and a Friday night bikini contest — and added family-friendly activities because the large grounds surrounding the 13,000-seat, 5/8-mile oval track are more accommodating.

"This is the right venue for what I've got to do," the promoter said.

A 100-foot "slo-drag" returns after a hiatus, he said.

In that race, the driver's objective is to be the slowest car, but he isn't allowed to tap his brakes. Failed participants often want to try again, and to do so will put additional people in the car, increasing its weight and the challenge, Mr. Moscoffian said.

"It's hilarious," he said.

Children can be ridden in pace cars, and at night, behind the track, they'll watch cartoons on a 25-foot theater screen.

On the same screen, families can watch a tribute to the late actress and singer Annette Funicello.

Campers will surround the perimeter of this area, Mr. Moscoffian said.

Mr. Moscoffian said he feels comfortable in the new home, and everybody who's involved appears to be happy with the larger, flatter venue.

Actors and actresses from the 1970s movie "American Graffiti" will be featured, as will longtime custom car builder Gene Winfield, who's bringing a car from California.

Mr. Moscoffian said he chose to leave Worcester for many reasons. The loss of a number of hotels was detracting from the pizazz of his event, he said.

The Connecticut speedway had been wanting to host his event for years, he said.

Because of the expense of stunts and celebrities, the Summer Nationals hadn't been profitable, but Mr. Moscoffian said he's hoping to turn that around.

"I'm expecting 4,000-plus like nothing on cars," he said. "As for (a projection of) the audience, time will tell after the weekend."

Mr. Moscoffian said he felt betrayed by Worcester officials who allowed Cars of Summer to take place alongside his event, which he said he kept within 20 minutes' driving time to accommodate its fans.

He said some people have called and said they registered for the Cars of Summer show out of confusion. They had intended to register for Mr. Moscoffian's show, Mr. Moscoffian said.

Marissa Brown, a Cars of Summer organizer, which is being put on by Brooks Motors on Route 12 in Auburn, said she hadn't received any calls of that nature. She said people are aware Brooks' is a first-time event and that the Summer Nationals have moved.

Mr. Moscoffian asserted the other show is being put on to "ride on the coattails of the Summer Nationals."

But Ms. Brown disagreed. She said Brooks Motors wanted to continue the tradition of having a car show in the city park.

"Many car enthusiasts weren't going to be making the trip down to Thompson," she said.

Told that Mr. Moscoffian had asked Cars of Summer to "stop using my pictures on the website," Ms. Brown said the statement was "priceless."

She said the pictures are of Brooks Motors-owned cars at past Summer Nationals events to which Brooks had paid a vendor fee.